Corner lock



March 27, 1934. H. RICHARDSON CORNER LOCK Filed 001;. 20. 193?.

wven fm Hemry a c/harcflw Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORNER LOCK Henry Richardson, Chicago, 111.

Application October 20, 1932, Serial No. 638,681

9 Claims. (Cl. 288) This invention relates to what are commonly years, the said slot as is well known making it known as corner locks for bedsteads and similar necessary for the bracket to be made of harder articles of furniture, the same comprising the or heavier metal than would otherwise be reinstrumentalities by which a side rail for a bed q de v t b bracket herein s o has i stead is separably connected to a bed end. no such slot, and because of this and one other 60.

My present invention is based upon the prinreason, later explained, and having reference only ciple of, and constitutes an improvement on, an to brackets for any form of arcuated post, it is earlier invention forming the subject matter reliably eflicient for any kind of metal bed end of an application for Letters Patent filed by When made from sheet metal by a Simple p- El'oi me on the th day of August, 1930, Serial 477,536, ng process. do and the present application constitutes a continu- In my pending application, Serial 518,329 filed ation in part of the aforesaid application. February 26, 1931, I have shown a corner con- The corner lock construction forming the substruction in which a vertically disposed wooden ject matter of my aforesaid application Serial side bar is employed in combination with a flat- 1511477536, is characterized by the provision of an tened surface on a round hollow metal corner 79 angle bracket having apost plate for, attachment 130st, Said Surface providing a recess W ich is to the bed end and a projecting flange having an used to accommodate both a po g p upwardly opening slot formed with an edge downtion of a bracket and an end ed e portion of wardly and inwardly inclined toward the post of said wooden bar, the thickness of the latter D -v 20); the bed end, a laterally offset portion of the verviding the necessary widt to its hearing against I tical flange of the side rail being offset into the a bed end. The present construction shows a s t, the offset portion having an edge thereof similarly flattened surface on a round post used contacting against the said inclined edge to wedge n mb at W an angle b S e a l. n and hold the adjacent end of the, side rail against this case only as mu h of the Surface of h p s 25 E1 the post plate, the vertical limb or flange of need be flattened as will provide a recess for a B0 said rail lying against the inner side of the slotted Po t of th p flange of a b a et nte ed flange of said post plate. therein; the rail has its vertical flange wedged In my aforesaid application Serial 477,536, I against an edge portion of said post flange; the also disclosed another embodiment of the same sid rail ein iv n i n e ry Width of bear- '30; structural principle wherein, in lieu of the slot e a st a bed end by Wedging its horizontal 86 in the projecting flange of the bracket, I provided flange against Said D fl an p a t a laterally offset portion of said flange on the dvanta of he l m w si as hown inner side of the latter formed with an edge in the Present o ruction, being that e P downwardly and inwardl inclined toward the ost flan f a sh t m t l bracket s p v t d fr m j of the bed and coacting against a laterally offset bending, under the severe pressure exerted against 90 portion of the vertical flange of the side rail by a it because of Said Wedging, y the entering 0f downwardly inclined sliding contact therewith. a p rti oi i p flange in s id r ces This This latter form of the invention has been is the reason previously referred to why the carried forward and amplified herein. bracket shown in the drawing is reliably efficient do 1 Among the objects of the present invention are t only fo square but also for any form of arcuto provide a simple and eflicient bed corner fasated corner P When made of et metal. toning of an improved structure, in which the Another advantage of said recess in combinamovable portion consists solely of an angle iron tion with an angle side rail is that it enables side rail of a bedstead adapted to be wedged and the horizontal flan of aid rail to have a much 45 ;held against a post flange of a bracket on a, wider and more efiicient bearing against the post corner post in either the upright or inverted posiflange of a bracket on a round or oval corner tion of said rail, and to provide an invertible post than can otherwise be obtained without the corner bracket adapted for both the right and use of hard or heavy metal for a bracket. When left hand corner posts of the same bed end, said the vertical flange of an angle side rail is wedged 5o ibracket preferably consisting of nothing more against the post flange of a bracket and both the 105. than an L-shaped piece of sheet metal shaped inner and outer surfaces of said post flange are to provide rail locking means. A bracket comarcuated in order to fit the latter against the surposed only of an L-shaped member having a deep face of a round post, as is connnonly done, an open ended .slot in the portion thereof serving end edge portion of the horizontal flange must be 55 ias a side flange has been in general use for some out out to permit the described wedging of said 11 vertical flange against the post flange. A recess in the surface of a round post as shown and described, dispenses with such cut outs, which not only add to the cost of a corner joint, but are also detrimental because they greatly reduce the amount of bearing an end edge of the horizontal flange of an angle bar can have against the post flange of a bracket. When arcuation of the post flange of a bracket for a round corner post is avoided the same bracket becomes adapted for both square and round corner posts, and when it is invertible as shown herein, only one form of bracket is required for all corner posts of any bedstead having metal ends.

The structural features and advantages of the present improvement will be more readily appreciated by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of one practical em bodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is an outer side elevation of a fragment of a round bed post, and an invertible corner bracket and angle side rail showing my improved construction as viewed'from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, in section through the side rail, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan'view, in horizontal section through the corner post. 1

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the side rail in endwise reversed and inverted position wherein it is adapted to support bed springs or slats. V

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the corner bracket.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an angle bar side rail, broken out between its ends.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates the corner post of the bedstead frame, in this instance shown as a round tubular structure, although a square or other form of post may be used with my improved corner lock.

The corner bracket, shownin detail in Fig. 5, comprises a flat post plate 11, and an integral side plate or flange 12' projecting at a right angle to the post-plate'll from one vertical edge of the latter.

The side plate 12 is, in this particular embodiment of the invention, formed with a laterally and outwardly bent portion 12 for a purpose later described. On the inner side of this portion 12 are a pair of wedge members 13 and 14 preferably formed as an oifset portion of 12' disposed with their inner ends continuous with each other and-oppositely inclined, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The wedge member 13 presents 7 an edge 13 that is downwardly and inwardly inclined in one upright position of the corner bracket, and the other'wedge member 14 has a similar edge 14' that is similarly inclined in the inverted position of the bracket. It may here be explained that by the expression inwardly inclined I mean inclined toward the post plate 11 of the bracket.

The outer face of the post plate 11 is provided with rail holding means consisting of a pair of vertical stop lugs 15 and 16, preferablyconstituted as shown, by offset portions of the plate 11 and spaced from the side plate 12 distance sufficient for said lug-to overlap the inner surface of thevertical limb of the side rail that engages the bracket, for a purpose" later described. Manicause if made'continuous, a notch would be nee essary'in the horizontal flange of the side rail -adjacentits vertical flange to permit the wedging of the side rail against the 'post plate in its inverted position, as shown by Fig. 4.

The movable portion of the present corner joint consists solely of an angle iron side rail, as shown, having its vertical limb adjacent the inner side of the side plate 12, said vertical limb being identified by 17 and the horizontal limb by 18. The vertical limb 17 has a portion thereof outwardly offset at 19, the offset portion having oppositely inclined edges 19a and 191) that may meet at their inner ends. When the side rail is engaged with the bracket in the upright position of the side rail shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the inclined edge 19b of the offset portion 19 slidingly engages with the inclined edge 13 of the bracketwedge" member 13 to wedge and hold an end edge of the side rail against the post plate 11 of the bracket.

When the side rail is reversed endwise and inverted, the inclined edge 19a of the oflset portion 19 at the other end of the side rail similarly slidingly engages with the inclined edge 13' topro duce the same effect, as shown in Fig; 4. The inclination from the vertical of the wedgihg edges 13' and 14. is substantially the same as the in-' 100 clination of the wedgingedge's 19a and 19b: The edges 19a and 1917 are substantially perpendicw lar or square to the outer surface of the limb 17.

The post plate 11 is secured rigidly'tothe corner post 10 by the usual short bolts or rivets=indi-' cated at 20, supplemented" by the usual'backing' plate or strip 21 withinthepost. To provide" an extended surface contact of the post plate" llwith the hollow round post 10,-a localized area of the surface of the post 10 is flattened, as shown at 10' in Fig. 3, which avoids thene'cessity'o'f transversely curving the postp'l'at'e 11 to fit a"c'orre-" spcndingly curved area ofthepo'st 10'. Several other important advantages o'f'a fiat surface on a round p'ost in combination with an angle iron side rail have already been mentioned;

The end portion of the side rail in the upright position of the latter, shown in Figs. 1 and2; is engaged with the bracket by simply entering it above the latter and then lowe'ring'it. The end 120 portion of the side rail, when-in theinverte'd position shown in Fig. 4, is engaged with the brack-' et by entering it endwise into the latter with the square end of the transverse limb 18 slightly be low the upper bolt or rivet 20, andthe'n lowering125 it. It will be observed that by locating the bracket wedging members 13 and 14 in the intermediate vertical portion of the bracket side plate, and spacing'th'e attaching rivets or bolts 20 sufliciently apart, the necessity of no'tching out the" end 130 edge ofthe horizontal limb'l8'of'aside rail'so as to clear the upper rivet 20 when applying-the side rail to the bracket in the inverted'pos'ition of the side'rail is avoided, and the end of'the horizontal limb'is thus given a continuous fit 135 throughout its full width against the post plate of the bracket, whereby more effective resistance'to angular side strains "on the side rail isobt'ained, thereby making practical the use of a sheet metal bracket inlieu of a heavy hard metal bracket.

When the side rail has been fully engaged withthe bracket, the lug: 15, in one position of the bracket, locks the siderail' against inward lateral displacement from the side plate of the bracket. and in the inverted position of the bracket; the "14-5 lug 16' performs the same function.

A noteworthy feature'of the invntioriresides' in the' invertible character of the bracket, with its duplicate siderail 'wedging and locking lugs above described; This renders the bracket-150 adaptable'for both the right and left corner posts of the bed ends. With the bracket in the position shown in Figs. 1, '2, 3 and 4, the inclined edge 13' of the wedging member 13 constitutes the active wedging member. In the inverted position of the bracket, manifestly the inclined edge 14 of the wedge member 14 constitutes the active wedging member. And in the upright position of the side rail shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, the inclined edge 1% constitutes the cooperating active wedging member, while in the inverted position of the side rail shown in Fig. 4, the inclined edge 19a constitutes the active wedging member.

Manifestly changes may be made in the specific forms, construction and arrangement of the parts of the bed corner joint herein shown described, within the principle of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that I reserve any modifications falling within the spirit and purview of-the claims.

I claim:

1. A bedstead corner fastening comprising a movable portion consisting solely of an angle iron side rail, and a bracket portion, comprising a post flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, a side flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and a wedging member on the inner side of said side flange projecting laterally thereof, the side rail having its vertical flange adjacent the side flange and on the inner side thereof, and having a portion of the vertical flange offset therefrom, the offset portion having an edge which is substantially square to the outer surface of the vertical flange, said edge coacting against the wedging member by an inclined sliding contact, adapted to wedge and hold the adjacent edge of the side rail against the post flange of the bracket portion.

2. A bedstead corner fastening comprising a movable portion consisting solely of an angle iron side rail, and'a bracket portion, comprising a post flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, a side flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and a wedging member on theinner side of said side flange projecting laterally thereof, the side rail having its vertical flange adjacent the side flange and on the inner side thereof and having a portion of the vertical flange offset therefrom, the ofiset portion having an inclined edge which is substantially square to the outer surface of the vertical flange, said edge coacting against the said wedging member to wedge and hold the adjacent end of the side rail against the post flange of the bracket portion.

3. A bedstead corner fastening comprising a movable portion consisting solely of an angle iron side rail, and a bracket portion, comprising a post flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, a side flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and a wedging member on the inner side of the side flange projecting laterally thereof, the side rail having its vertical flange adjacent to the side flange and on the inner side thereof, opposite end portions of the vertical flange being outwardly offset therefrom, each of said offset portions having an edge which is substantially square to the outer surface of the vertical flange, the said edge of one ofiset portion having a sliding engagement with said wedging member adapted to wedge and hold the side rail against the post flange in the upright position of the side rail,

and, when the-side rail is inverted and turned end for end, the said edge of the other offset portion having a sliding engagement with said wedging member adapted to wedge and hold the side rail against the post flange.

4. A bedstead corner fastening comprising a movable portion consisting solely of an angle iron side rail, and a bracket portion, comprising a post flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, a side flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and a wedging member on the inner side of the side flange projecting laterally thereof, said member having an edge portion downwardly inclined toward the bed post, the side rail having its vertical flange adjacent to the side flange and on the inner side thereof and having a portion of the vertical flange offset therefrom, the offset portion having upper and lower oppositely inclined edge portions, one coacting against the downwardly inclined edge of said wedging member to wedge and hold the adjacent end of the side rail against the post flange in the upright position of the side rail, and the other coacting against the downwardly inclined edge of the wedging member on the side flange at the opposite end of the bedstead when the side rail is inverted and turned end for end, and a stop lug on the bracket portion overlapping the inner side of the vertical flange of the side rail in both the upright and inverted positions of the latter.

5. An invertible corner bracket for bedsteads, adaptable to either the right or left hand corner post of a bed end, said bracket comprising a plate, a portion whereof is adapted for attachment to a said post, the remaining portion projecting from the bed end to constitute a side flange provided with a pair of oppositely inclined rail wedging edges, one of said inclined edges co-acting with means on a side rail to connect the latter to the bracket when the bracket is attached to the corner post at one side of a bed end, and the other inclined edge similarly coacting with means on a side rail when thebracket is inverted and attached to the corner post at the opposite side of the same bed end.

6. An invertible corner bracket for bedsteads, adaptable for attachment to either the right or left hand corner post of a bed end, said bracket comprising a post flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, a side flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and oppositely inclined members on the inner side of the side flange projecting inwardly therefrom, an inclined edge of one of said members coacting with means on a side rail to wedge and hold the latter against the post flange when the bracket is attached to the corner post at one side of a bed end, and an inclined edge of the other member similarly coacting with means on a side rail when the bracket is inverted and attached to the corner post at the opposite side of the same bed end.

7. An invertible corner bracket for bedsteads, adaptable to either the right or left hand corner post of a bed end, said bracket comprising a plate, a portion of which is adapted for attachment to a said post, the remaining portion projecting from the bed end to constitute a side flange having offset portions thereof, the offset portions having oppositely inclined edges, one of said edges converging downwardly toward a corner post and coacting with means on a side rail to connect the latter to the bracket when the bracket is attached to the corner post at one dis side of a bed end, the otherof said edges similarlyconverging and-coacting withmeans on a side railv when the bracket is inverted and attached tothe corner post at the opposite side of the same bed end.

H 8. A bedstead corner fastening comprising a movable portion consisting solelyof an angle bar side rail, and a bracket portion comprising a-post. flange adapted for attachment to a corner post, aside flange at the outer side of the post flange and at right angles thereto, and a wedging member on the inner side of the side flange projecting laterally thereof, the side rail having its vertical flange adjacent to the side flange and on the inner side thereof and having a portion of the vertical flange oifset therefrom, the offset portion having upper and lower oppositely inclined edges which are substantially square to the outer surface of the vertical flange, oneof said edges coacting against the said wedging member to wedge and hold the adjacent end of.

the. side rail against the post flange in the upright position of the side rail, and the other simiof the side rail in both the upright and inverted positions of the latter, 7 I u I 9.-An invertible corner bracket for bedsteads adaptable to either theright orjlefthand corner post of a bed end, said bracket comprisinga plate, a portion of which is adapted for attachment to a corner post, the remaining portion projecting from the bedendto constitute a side flange a portion of which is offset therefrom, said offset portion being adapted to cot-act with meanson a side railto connect the latter to the bracket when the bracket is attached to acorner post at one side of a bed endandto similarlyco-act with means on a side rail when the bracket is inverted and attachedto the corner post at the opposite side of the same bed end.

HENRY RICHARDSON. 

